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Soccer / IFA scratches all weekend matches By Haaretz Staff The Israel Football Association decided yesterday to cancel nationwide soccer matches planned to take place this weekend, including the Premier League round, because of the fighting in the south of the country. "The Association does not think it is fitting to continue to hold matches at a time that the citizens of the south are under attack by rockets and are taking cover in bomb shelters and protected areas," an IFA statement read. Advertisement The IFA said it could have carried out the matches as planned and found alternatives for clubs whose stadiums are within striking range of rockets fired by Palestinians from Gaza, but cancelled all matches in solidarity with the plight of residents of the south. "We want to show support for the residents of the south and the Israel Defense Forces troops that are fighting in the Gaza Strip," IFA Chairman Avi Luzon said. "We send our condolences to the families of those killed and well wishes of full recuperation to the wounded. May peace and quiet return to the homes of all the citizens of the State of Israel. May all our soldiers return home safely." The Premier League has been on a winter break and was supposed to resume this weekend. Despite the announcement, one leg of the Toto Cup quarterfinals were held yesterday (see article) and another will be held today. Earlier yesterday, the weekend's matches were taken out of the Toto betting form and replaced with international encounters for fear of cancellation. At teh same time that the IFA made its annoucement the IBA said the game between Hapoel Jerusalem and Olympic Larissa will take place in Israel as planned. The announcement was made after the Larissa asked the organization to postpone the game because of fighting in the south. Following the decision, Larissa's spokesman said the team would not show up for the game. "We shall not show up in Jerusalem," the spokesman said. "We received a message from FIBA the game will take place as planned but because of the security situation we shall not play against Jerusalem." Bookmark to del.icio.us   'With total determination' Widow of IDF soldier killed Monday remembers her fallen hero. Anti-Semites unite! Protests against Gaza op worldwide have had a hateful, violent tone.

Read & React Bradley Burston / Gaza War Diary III: If Mexico shelled Texas, like Hamas shells Israel Responses: 151 At least 30 die in strike on Gaza school; IDF: Troops fired in self-defense Responses: 103 ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip Responses: 32 ANALYSIS / Price of stubborness over Gaza exit is dead Israeli soldiers Responses: 59 More Headlines 02:12 Abbas at UN calls for Gaza truce, fresh peace talks 01:51 Israel to establish 'humanitarian corridor' for Gaza Strip 01:55 Egypt's Gaza truce plan: ceasefire followed by border security talks 00:21 IDF shell kills 30 in Gaza UN school; Israel mulls appeal over Hamas fire from UN facilities 22:47 Obama breaks silence on Gaza, calls civilian deaths 'a deep concern' 23:03 Al-Qaida No. 2 urges Muslims to attack Israeli and Western targets over Gaza op 23:50 Five Israeli soldiers killed in 24 hours, as IDF closes in on Gaza cities 23:42 French TV claims photos from 2005 showed damage from Israel's Gaza operation 16:21 Gaza rocket hits Gedera, 30km from Tel Aviv; baby lightly hurt 17:12 ANALYSIS / Price of stubborness over Gaza exit is dead soldiers 18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 00:22 'You'll be proud of me, yet' slain IDF soldier told family before entering Gaza 21:45 The view from Ramallah / An Intifada in its infancy? 22:19 Turkey-Israel basketball game canned after pro-Gaza protesters storm court 14:37 ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip 19:17 'Iran pledged Hezbollah won't respond to Gaza op,' says top Lebanese MP 18:39 Jewish and Arab students clash on Gaza offensive 13:06 ANALYSIS / The unspoken goal of bringing down Hamas in Gaza 20:07 Hospitalized but defiant, Israeli soldiers eager to return to Gaza battle 13:40 Israeli general: Never knew I was evacuating my wounded soldier son from Gaza 13:00 Burning car rams synagogue in southwest France 13:46 Egypt bars doctors from entering Gaza Strip 05:44 Hamas puts Gazans in danger by drawing IDF into urban warfare 18:21 PICTURE GALLERY / Gaza incursion sparks protests around world Previous Editions Select Day 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec

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